Heels are #21 in the AP Poll, #22 in the coaches poll, #22 in the BCS.
This is a case where polls and perceptions are given to seismic shifts from week to week, especially when you consider the opinion of UNC shifted because (1) the Heels crushed a ranked BC team that was perceived to be very good based on a win over Virginia Tech and (2) the perception of Virginia changed. UVa opened the season craptacular fashion losing to USC, UConn and Duke by an average of 36 points. The perception was, rightfully so, that UVa sucked. Beating Maryland 31-0 at home did little to change that thinking since Maryland had their own problems in the form of losing to Middle Tennessee. Yes, the Terps beat Cal but UVa got little credit for their win because Maryland was seen as a team given to falling asleep at the wheel. So when UNC lost to UVa without Brandon Tate the perception was they lost to a weak team. Fast forward one week. UVa collects another win over a ranked team, on the road at that. Meanwhile the Heels bounce back and smack a ranked team at home. The result? UNC gets back into the poll because the BC win was a good one and the loss to UVa is now considered to be not so bad. Incidentally, Maryland also entered both polls at #25. That is noteworthy because UVa has wins over both UNC and Maryland. They are ranked and UVa isn’t. Maybe the perception of UVa has not changed after all.
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we’re in the “others receiving votes” this week … I think both of your theories are correct
Hard to draw a conclusion about these polls. I am just glad that enough voters are convinced we are the 22nd best team in the NCAA. Duke fans are calling for a final game showdown to determine the better team since they knocked off Vanderbilt at home. They also take pride in the fact that they beat a dismal UVA team that we couldn’t manage to defeat. There may be some merit to their argument, but I doubt it. 6-2 goes a long way over 4-3 if you ask me. I don’t know who they face for the next 4 games, but it very well may come down to the final game.
It took me a few minutes to find dook’s website. They spell it a little different.
Anyway, they play wake, state, clemson and VT before us. If they win 3 of those they have a good enough team to worry me.
Wake & VT are games they could lose. Clemson is close behind, and State who knows? You’re right, if they win 3 of those, look out.